I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying

I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying is a collection of essays that chronicles Bassey Ikpi's experiences with bipolar II disorder and anxiety. The Nigerian-American writer and spoken word artist documents her journey from childhood through adulthood. The essays move between Lagos, Nigeria and Stillwater, Oklahoma, tracking Ikpi's navigation of family relationships, cultural identity, and mental health challenges. Her work as a performer with HBO's Def Poetry Jam intersects with her increasing awareness of her psychiatric condition. Through a mix of stories and reflection, Ikpi reconstructs memories while questioning their reliability, creating a layered exploration of how mental illness affects perception and truth-telling. The format mirrors the fragmentation of memory and consciousness that characterizes her experience. The collection examines broader themes of identity, belonging, and the complex interplay between cultural expectations and mental health. Ikpi's narrative contributes to conversations about mental illness in communities of color while challenging conventional approaches to memoir writing.

Readers appreciate Ikpi's raw honesty about living with bipolar II disorder and anxiety. Many note her unique writing style that mirrors the disorienting nature of mental illness through fragmented narratives and time jumps. Multiple reviewers mention the impact of her descriptions of childhood in Nigeria and Oklahoma. Readers liked: - Vivid descriptions of how mental illness feels - Poetic, experimental writing structure - Cultural insights about Nigerian family dynamics Common criticisms: - Nonlinear timeline creates confusion - Some essays feel repetitive - Writing style can be hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) "Her description of mania is the most accurate I've ever read," notes one Goodreads reviewer. An Amazon reviewer states: "The fragmentary style made it difficult to stay engaged, though it effectively conveyed the author's mental state."

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🌟 Bassey Ikpi was born in Nigeria and moved to Oklahoma at age four, later becoming a spoken-word poet and performer with HBO's Def Poetry Jam. 📖 The book's essays explore Ikpi's experiences living with Bipolar II Disorder and anxiety, challenging the stigma around mental health in Nigerian and African-American communities. 🎭 Before becoming an author, Ikpi founded The Siwe Project, a mental health organization focused on raising awareness in the global Black community. ✍️ The memoir's unique structure mirrors the author's mental state, with some chapters written in second-person perspective to convey dissociative episodes. 🏆 The book was named one of the best books of 2019 by The Washington Post and was a #1 Amazon bestseller in the African American Poetry category.